Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – Since Friday, Border Patrol agents foiled five smuggling attempts and seized more than 780 pounds of marijuana.
On Friday evening, Rio Grande Valley Sector agents working near Escobares, Texas, observed several drug smugglers make landfall on the U.S. bank of the Rio Grande. As agents approached, the smugglers abandoned the bundles and fled back to Mexico. A search of the immediate area revealed more than 231 pounds of marijuana in the brush. The marijuana is worth more than $185K.
A half-hour later, Rio Grande City agents working in Roma, Texas, responded to a report of a suspicious red Dodge pickup at a nearby cross street. As agents arrived, they observed the pickup leaving the area and attempted to conduct a vehicle stop. Shortly thereafter, the driver failed to yield and a pursuit ensued. Moments later, agents successfully stopped the vehicle. Agents discovered more than 210 pounds of marijuana in the brush along with a suspected drug smuggler at the initial location. The driver and smuggler were arrested. The marijuana is valued at over $169K. The Starr County High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force took custody of the driver and the narcotics.
The following evening, agents working near La Grulla, Texas, responded to a report of multiple subjects walking north of the Rio Grande. The agents followed shoe prints and discovered six bundles of marijuana abandoned in the dense brush. The drugs weighed over 227 pounds, valued at over $181K.
Additionally, over the weekend, agents seized more than 115 pounds of marijuana, arrested two smugglers, and seized one vehicle in two separate incidents. The marijuana is valued at over $92K.
The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and report suspicious activity at 800-863-9382.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds
